IT’S WORTH THE SIDE TRIP

A sign with corn stalks and a cornfield.

One of the perks of being a TV food producer is that you get to eat at some fantastic places. Once while visiting Nashville, I was encouraged to check out the Café Loveless Motel — an out-of-the way spot with the most fantastic country breakfasts sure to clog each and every artery. Country ham with…

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EASY POTATO WEDGES

Baked potato wedges on a baking sheet.

I’m always looking for a quick and easy side dish. These potato wedges are a perfect accompaniment for most chicken or meat dishes. They’re reminiscent of French fries, but baked without all the fat from deep-frying. They still come out crispy on the outside and they have a bit of a zing from the spices.…

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THE POWER OF BARBRA

A woman singing into a microphone in front of a crowd.

There truly are moments you remember all your life. On a blustery fall day in 1968, for some inexplicable reason, my mom wanted to take me to the movies to see a picture called Funny Girl. Me, and not my brothers—this was a first! We arrived early at the theater and my mom said we…

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NANA’S NOODLE PUDDING

A dish of pasta with raisins and cranberries.

My nana always made THE best noodle pudding. Some people call it kugel, but in our family, it was always Nana’s Noodle Pudding. When she passed, I got to keep her recipe box with all of her classics jotted down on 3 x 5 stained and faded cards. It’s been over thirty years since she…

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KASHUKA

Top view of a beautiful plate of food

One of my favorite middle-eastern dishes is Shakshuka. It’s basically a tomato-base of stewed vegetables with the eggs cooked right in the sauce. I absolutely adore it but it wreaks havoc on my digestive system due to the acidity in the tomatoes. So, never one to give up anything I love, I came up with…

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DON’T FEED THE BABOONS

Close up image of three black color monkeys

You can’t go all the way to Cape Town without heading south to the Cape of Good Hope, the most southwestern point of the African continent, at least according to the sign. There are lots of signs as you make your way there, but most of them are about NOT feeding the baboons: DO NOT…

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CLEAN OUT THE FRIDGE CASSEROLE

A table bowl full of food n the table

I hate wasting food, but eating the same thing a few nights in a row can get boring. If I make a roast chicken, I’m always looking for different ways in which to use the leftovers. And if I’ve got some veggies in the fridge that are a tad past their prime, but not quite…

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EAT, PRAY, LOVE

A woman walking in a green field with so many crops

I love movies with exotic locations. Eat, Pray, Love made Bali look so beautiful, romantic, and otherworldly that given the chance to go, I couldn’t pass it up. Who wouldn’t want to live in a glamorous hut shacked up next to Javier Bardem and never worry about locking the door? When I arrived in Ubud,…

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BEET SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE DRESSING

Close up image of food with designs

I’ve never been a huge fan of beets, but I seem to be able to tolerate them if they are dressed up with a bunch of other tasty ingredients. I do like the color they add to a dish and from a nutritional standpoint, they are a very respectable vegetable. Paired with goat cheese, beets…

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LIONS AND RHINOS AND SCARES, OH MY!

Close up shot of a lion watching at the camera

I’ve never been much of an animal lover. I was chased by a Great Dane as a kid and he almost bit me as my bell bottoms flapped in the wind, nearly getting caught in the spokes of my bike as I lifted my feet from its hungry mouth. I still have a fear of…

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